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TTI R 


HAPPY NEW YEAH. 


NEW’ 

A 

YEAR’S PRESENT 


FOR 


THE CHILD. 

BY WILLIAM M. THAYER. 

M 

FOURTH EDITION, REVIS!ED AND ENLARGED. 


BOSTON: 

CYRUS STONE, 

11 CORNHILL. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in th* year 185.3, by 
WILLIAM M. THAYEIl, 

In tlie Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of MassachuaeUa. 


/S7s ?/ 


/<7 


^ c. 


Stereotyped by 
HOBART & ROBBINS, 

HEW ENGLAND TTPE AJ«D STEREOITPE FOUNDSRT, 
BOSTON. 


PREFACE. 


In the preparation of this volume, the object 
of the writer was to expose the lack of meaning 
which is generally attached to the oft-repeated 
expression of friendship, “ I wish you a happy 
NEW YEAR,^’ and to illustrate to the minds of 
children the important truth that “a happy 
NEW YEAR ’’ does not depend upon wealth, 
fame, power, health, friends, or any other tem- 
poral possession or blessing, but upon true 
Religion. 

The sale of the first edition, and the favor 
1 * 


VI 


PREFACE. 


with which the work has been received, en- 
courage the author to hope that his humble 
effort at this kind of writing may not be wholly 
fruitless. The present edition appears with some 
corrections and additions. 


W. M. T. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTEK I. 

**I Tfish you a happy new year.” — What does it meanl — 
Few children think of this. — Jane Marlow. — Why I 
write this book, 9 

CHAPTER II. 

New-year’s evening. — The conversation. — Be careful what we 
wish another. — Henry Wilson. — Celebrating the flight of 
time. — Thomas Jones and his sister. — One year less to live. 
— Importance of thinking, 16 


CHAPTER III. 

Conversation renewed. — Will wealth confer happiness 1 — Henry 
and Frances. — The poor widow. — The mind is the source of 
happiness. — The story of the 'poor, happy woman, . , . , 23 


CHAPTER IV. 

The Sabbath. — The sermon, “This year thou shalt die.” — 
Impression upon Jane. — Conversation renewed after meet* 
ing. — Can honor and power confer happiness 1 — Alexander 
unhappy. — The mayor, 33 


VITI 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER V. 

The pleasure-life. — Will pleasure confer happiness 1 — Mr 
Marston’s and Mr. Gladstone’s children. — The playthings. 
— The ride. — Mr. Gladstone’s misfortune. — His happy 
children. — Lord Chesterfield. — Solomon, 40 


CHAPTER VI. 

Monday evening. — Can a person be happy in sickness 1 — 
Five blessings derived from sickness. — The story of the 
wonderful sight, 54 

CHAPTER VII. 

The sad news. — Can a person be happy without eyes 1 — Jane’s 
Sunday School paper. — Story of Julia Brace, deaf, dumb 
and blind, yet happy, 62 


CHAPTER VIII. 


Can it be a happy new year to one who dies “I — Dr. Payson. — 
Dr. Watts. — The stranger boy and the minister’s visit, , . 68 


CHAPTER IX. 

Review. — What learned. — Nothing but religion will make 
a person truly happy. — A year of misery without relig- 
ion ; a year of happiness with it. — The French boy and the 
Bible, Ox 


THE IIATPY NEW YEAR. 


CHAPTER I. 

**I wish you a happy new year.” — What does it mean'? — 
Few children think of this. — Jane Marlow. — Why I 
write this book. 

A Happy New Year, for all the children who 
read this volume, is the wish of the author. For 
he loves to see a happy child, as rosy as an apple, 
and as smiling as an April morning. May it be a 
HAPPIER year, dear children, than any which you 
have seen ; and I am sure it will be, if it is happy 
in the way I mean. 

Did you ever think to inquire what is the mean- 
ing of the phrase, “A happy new year?’^ 
Have you not sometimes expressed this wish to 
your brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, friends 
and playmates, without any meaning at all ? 

On the last evening of last year, Jane Marlow 


10 


THE IIAPpy NP^W^YEAR. 


declared she would be up first in the morning, and 
wish all hands a happy new year. So away she 
went to bed, two hours earlier than usual, that she 
might awake long before the morning sun would 
look in at her window. 

Now, Jane was about eleven, and her little sis- 
ter, who slept with her, about eight years of age. 
The latter was very anxious to know how Jane 
would manage to get the start of her parents in 
the morning. So she made inquiries. 

“Jane, I do not see how you will wake up be- 
fore father does, for we never wake in the morning 
till he comes and calls us. Will you wake up easier 
new-year’s day 7 ” 

“I am going to do just as Kitty Ford did last 
new-year’s morning,” replied Jane. “ She told 
me that she agreed with Margaret (the servant 
girl) to wake her as soon as she opened her eyes, 
and then she ran down stairs, and burst into her 
mother’s bed-room, and waked her and her father 
too, by wishing them a happy new year. Now I 
think that is a good way. So I have got Mary 
(the servant girl) to wake me very early, for she 
always gets up before father and mother, and then 
I shall wish them a happy new year before they 
think I am awake.” 

Well satisfied with this, Jenny — for that was 


THE WISH. 


n 


the name of the little sister — asked no more 
questions, and soon was fast asleep. But Jane 
thought so much about surprising her parents 
very early, and became so restless thereby, that 
it seemed to her she should keep awake all night. 
I need not tell you more about her feelings, for 
all of you, who have been impatient for a holiday 
to come, know exactly how she felt. 

Finally, Jane, too, fell asleep, and the night 
hours passed swiftly away. You know that time 
seems to pass more rapidly when you are asleep 
than when awake. So that night was very short 
to Jane. 

The morning came, but only a few streaks of 
light could be seen in the east, it was yet so early. 
But Mary thought it was high time that Jane was 
up, if she would surprise her parents. So she 
arose, dressed herself, and was soon at Jane’s bed- 
side, whispering in her ear. 

Jane was not as long as usual waking on that 
morning. She did not have to rub her eyes much. 
They came open easily, and she was soon dressed, 
and down stairs she went ‘‘as still as a mouse.” 
In a moment more the whole house rang with her 
voice, I loish you a happy new year ! I wish 
YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR ! Her parents started 
up from a sound sleep as if the house were on fire, 


12 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


and were much pleased when thej found that it 
was their little daughter who had begun the new 
year so “ bright and early.” 

All was merry from this hour till the breakfast 
was on the table ; dolls were paraded, the little 
tea-set spread, and numerous playthings brought 
forward for a real child’s holiday. 

The bell rang for breakfast ; and when the fam- 
ily — father, mother, children and all — were seated 
around the table, there happened what I wish most 
of all to tell you. 

Jane,” said her father, “ can you tell me 
what you mean by a happy new year? You 
wished us such a year before we were up. What 
kind of a year shall we enjoy if we have a happy 
one 7 ” 

Jane scarcely knew what to reply, for she had 
not thought of this before, but she finally confessed 
how thoughtless she was, by answering, 

‘‘I don’t know, father.” 

“ But did you not mean anything, my daughter, 
when you expressed that wish 7 ” 

^‘0, yes ; but then I can’t tell exactly what I 
meant, though I think I can tell you now some- 
thing about a happy year.” 

‘‘You say, then, that you did not think any- 


WHAT DOES IT MEAN? 


13 


thing about what you meant when you wished us 
a happy new year 7 ” 

“Yes, father, I think ” 

“ Well, my dear, that is what I want to know ; 
it is very important to mean something by what 
you say. I would not give much for a wish, from 
you or anybody, if nothing is meant by it. But 
you say that you can now tell me something about 
it. Let me hear.” 

Jane was now quite ashamed that her wish had 
really so little meaning ; but, making the best of 
it, she proceeded to say, 

“ I think that, if you and mother are not sick, 
and Jenny and I are not sick, and you have a 
plenty of money, and many friends to love you, 
and some other things, it would be a happy year 
to you.” 

Mr. Marlow looked at his wife and smiled, then 
said, “Jane, this is a more important matter than 
you suppose. We will dismiss it this morning, but, 
when it comes evening, I will talk more about it. 
I think you have very wrong ideas of what will 
make a happy new year.” 

None of my little readers must think that Jane 
was a very thoughtless girl, for she was just like 
most little girls and boys who wish their parents 
and others a happy new year. Very few of them 
2 


14 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


mean anything by it. And even older persons^ 
men and women, express the same wish without 
meaning anything at all. Young men and young 
ladies address each other in the same way ; and 
if we should put the simple question to them, 
which Jane's father put to her, they would be 
as really unable to give an answer. This sug- 
gests the incident which induced me to write this 
book. 

Last new-year’s day, I was on my way to the 
post-office, when a rosy-cheeked little fellow came 
running up to me in a great hurry, and exclaimed, 
‘‘ I WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR.” I wished 
him one in return, and passed on. 

Let me say here, that he was a member of the 
Sabbath School, as you might know, since nearly 
all boys who address a minister with such a good 
wish love the Sabbath School. 

I went home, and all the day I was putting 
the question to myself, does that boy mean any- 
thing by a happy new year ? — and I asked 
myself, do men and women mean anything by 
this oft-repeated wish ? Convinced that usually 
there is little hearty good-will in the kind ex- 
pression, I resolved, that day, that if I lived, 
before another new-year’s day, I would write a 


ORIGIN OF THE BOOK. 


15 


book tc teach children what is really a happy 

YEAR. 

This is the hook, children. And again I ‘‘wish 
YOU ALL A HAPPY NEAV YEAR and, before you 
read to the end, 1 think you will understand what 
it means. 


CHAPTEK II. 


Kew-year*s evening. — The conversation. — Be careful what we 
wish another. — Henry Wilson. — Celebrating the flight of 
time. — Thomas Jones and his sister. — One year less to live 
— Importance of thinking. 


The evening soon came. It was such a new- 
year’s evening as many children have delighted to 
see. The moon shone like a silver plate, and the 
stars looked down as brightly as angels’ eyes. 
The ground was white with snow, and the merry 
sleigh-bells proclaimed that joyous hearts were 
abroad that nicjht. 

Mr. Marlow had been absent all the day at his 
store, but he bad closed it at an early hour, in 
order to spend the evening with his wife and chil- 
dren. And then, too, he had promised Jane that 
he would talk with her about the meaning of a 
happy new year. Jane had not forgotten it 
during the whole day ; and as soon as her father 
had finished his supper, and the table was spread, 
and the solar lamp lighted, she reminded him of 
his promise. 


THE CONVERSATION. 


17 


‘‘Father, you know that you promised to tell 
me about the meaning of a happy new year.” 

“Yes, my daughter, and I have closed my 
store on purpose to tell you about it. I think * 
that new-year’s evening is a very proper time to 
converse about the wish you expressed so early 
this morning.” 

“ Did you really think, last night,” asked Jane, 
“that I should get up so early this morning?” 
evidently a little proud of the deed. 

“ I think it was rather early,” replied her fath- 
er, humorously, “to rise, in order to express a wish 
without a meaning.” 

Jane dropped her head at this remark, but was 
now more anxious than ever to learn what a happy 
new year could mean. 

“I should think, father, that this wishing one 
another a happy new year was rather a solemn 
thing, by the way yon speak about it.” 

“ Perhaps you will think it is before we get 
through. If God should give us some of the 
things which our friends wish. He would bestow, 
perhaps, what would make us very wretched in- 
deed. It is well to consider exactly what we 
mean, before we wish another would be prosper- 
ous and happy ; for the things which we desire 
a friend to have might prove his ruin.” 


18 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


“I hope you don’t think that I want you and 
mother to have anything that will hurt you. I 
did not wish you such a year. I wished you a 
^ happy new year, and I am sure that you could 
not be happy, if anything should injure you.’' 

‘‘ No, Jane, I know you did not mean that we 
might have anything to our injury ; but I want 
you should understand that what we wish another 
might enjoy as a blessing, sometimes unexpectedly 
proves a curse. So that we ought not only to 
guard against uttering a wish without a meaning, 
but also be very careful about what we w'ould have 
another person possess.” 

“ I never thought of this before,” said Jane. 
‘‘ I have very often wished that Mary Brown and 
Hattie Jones might have as nice dresses as mine, 
and many other things ; and I thought I was kind 
in wishing so.” 

“ You were kind, my child, and I wish all other 
children were as kind ; but you don’t quite under- 
stand me. You remember Henry Wilson, whom I 
dismissed from the store last summer, because he 
was so wild and reckless, do you not ? ” 

‘‘Yes, father.” 

“ Much of the money he obtained was spent in 
riding about, and in dissipation. To wish that 
such a young man might have plenty of money. 


CELEBRATING THE FLIGHT OF TIME. 19 


and abundant time for pleasure, would be very 
wrong indeed. If such a wish were realized, it 
would prove his ruin. This was what I meant, 
J ane. And I thus spoke, in order that you might 
see the importance of thinking before you express 
a wish.” 

‘‘ I see now what you meant, father, and I think 
I shall always remember it.” 

‘‘Before I pursue this subject further,” said her 
father, seeming to regard the matter as a solemn 
one, “I desire to impress a very important truth 
upon your mind. It is in relation to the plays 
and sports, and the frolics with which children 
and young men and women celebrate new-year’s 
day.” 

“ I hope you don’t think it is wrong to have a 
good time on this day 7” said Jane, starting up 
with surprise. “ New-year’s day is n’t Sunday. 
Mrs. Jones told mother to-day, that Thomas and 
his sister were going to have a party to-night, 
because it is new-year’s evening ; and I am sure 
Mrs. Jones is a good woman.” 

“ Why, my daughter, are Thomas and his sister 
going to have a good time to-night ? ” 

“ Because another year has gone, and a new 
year begun, I suppose.” 

“ And that is the very thought I would have 


20 


THE HAPPY NP:W YEAR. 


you dwell upon, Jane. I dure say, if we were to 
pass Mrs. Jones’ house at twelve o’clock to-night, 
we should hear the sound of music and dancing, 
and perhaps the loud shouts of mirth ; and all, 
you say, because another year has passed. Are 
they so glad that time is passing away, and that 
they are one year older 7 ’ ’ 

“I suppose so,” replied Jane. “I am always 
very happy when new-year’s day comes, and also 
on my birth day, when I think I am one year 
older.” 

‘ ‘ But are you not nearer the grave and eter- 
nity, by one year, every time you are one year 
older? Will you not die sooner, — will not the 
judgment come sooner ? Have you not one year 
less to live 7 ” 

Jane was quite overcome by this unexpected 
exhibition of a solemn truth, and was obliged to 
make the confession, — ‘‘I never thought of this 
before.” 

“Then you think it is not a matter to sport 
about, that you have one year less to live every 
time a new year comes in, and that you will 
sooner be laid in the cold grave 7 ” 

“ I think it is not,” answered Jane. “ But do 
many persons think of this?” 

“I presume not ; and this shows still more the 


IMPORTANCE OF THINKING. 


21 


importance of thinking before we speak and act. 
You see by this how little reflection there is among 
men. You see, too, for what our minds were given 
to us. Of all the young men and women at Mrs. 
Jones’ house to-night, probably there is not one 
who would not be greatly alarmed if he or she 
were to die to-morrow. And yet they are making 
merry over the flight of time, when every passing 
year is shortening their lives.” 

‘‘Then you do not think it is right for young 
people to have merry times on new-year’s day 7 ” 
“ I have not said so. I only said that they 
ought not to be merry because another year has 
passed away ; for this, rightly viewed, is a serious 
matter to them. They may have a merry time if 
they do it from the right motive.'*'’ 

“ And what is that motive 7 ” inquired Jane. 

“ Gratitude that their lives have been spared 
another year ; that they are surrounded with so 
many blessings, and that they begin a new year 
in such pleasant circumstances, and with such 
flattering prospects before them. We are always 
to regard the motive in determining the right or 
wrong of actions.” 

“I think I shall never forget this truth on 
another new-year’s day, father,” added Jane, 
with a countenance indicating that she had 


22 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


learned much of which she had never thought 
before. 

Here a rap at the door interrupted the conver- 
sation. Mr. and Mrs. Joyful were ushered into 
the room, with “A happy new year’* for Mr. 
and Mrs. Marlow, children and all. 


JII AFTER III. 

Conversation renewed. — Will wealth confer happiness ‘I — Henry 
and Frances. — The poor widow. — The mind is the source of 
happiness. — The story of the poor, happy woman. 

Mr. and Mrs. Joyful called chiefly to offer the 
family a new-year's salutation, so they soon left, 
fl'he evening was now so far spent, that Jane began 
to think she should hear little more about the mean- 
ing of A HAPPY NEW YEAR, on that night. But 
her father was full as anxious to give, as she was 
to receive, instruction upon the subject. So he 
began somewhat as follows : — 

“ Now, Jane, I am ready to talk with you 
about your wish. Did I not understand you to 
say that a plenty of money might make a happy 
year ? ” 

“That was one of the things I mentioned. I do 
not mean that money alone would do it.” 

“ But you think that wealth will confer some 
happiness ? ” 

“ Yes, father ; and it always seemed to me that 
rich people, who can have everything they want, 


24 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


have not so much to trouble them. I think that 
Harry and Frances May are happier than poor 
Widow Barstow’s children, and you know that 
Harry and Frances have everything they want.” 

‘‘ Well, could not Harry and Frances be made 
unhappy, notwithstanding their father is so rich?” 

‘‘I suppose they could be made unhappy. If 
their father and mother should die, or if they 
should be very sick, I think they would not be 
happy.” 

“ Then, do you not see that happiness does not 
depend upon wealth ? If money can give happi- 
ness, then why should it not make people happy 
W’hen they are sick ? No, Jane, true happiness 
does not depend upon any of the things which you 
have named.” 

“ Do you mean to say, father, that a person 
who has no money, and none of the things I spoke 
of, may be just as happy as a person who has 
them all?” 

‘‘Yes, and happier too, than one who has them 
all, and does not use them as God designs he 
should. I have seen a widow with five children 
to support by washing for people, and yet she was 
happier than old Mr. Cross is, with his ‘ hundred 
thousand dollars.’ ” 

“ She may seem to be happy,” said Jane, “but 


WILL WEALTH COxXFER HAPPINESS? 25 


I guess if you could see her all the time, you 
would find that she had many hearty cries. I 
know my mother could not be happy if she had to 
support us by washing ; and it would make me 
unhappy to see her work so hard.” 

“ Perhaps you think that rich people are happy 
because they are not compelled to labor. But do 
you not remember the commandment, ‘ Six days 
shalt thou labor ? ’ God designed that men should 
work and not be idle, else he would have said, ‘Six 
days shalt thou be idle.’ He has so made us that 
we are much better if we work. The body is more 
healthy, the mind is more active, and the spirits 
are more lively. And, then, who thinks well of a 
lazy, lounging, indolent man?” 

“ Father, I thought I was going to learn about 
a happy new year ; it is now after eight o’clock, 
and I have scarcely heard a word about it.” 

‘ ‘ Certainly you have. All that I have re- 
marked is about what you have said concerning a 
happy year. I wish you to learn, in the begin- 
ning, that no person can be truly happy unless 
the mind is happy. He may possess the whole 
world, and yet he will be wretched, at least some- 
times, unless his mind is peaceful. This shows 
that a happy new year does not depend upon any 
of the possessions which you mentioned.” 

3 


26 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


‘‘ 1 should like to see such a person,” said Jane, 
rather distrustinglj. “ lie would make a good 
missionary, to be happy with nothing.” 

I will prove to you that what I say is true, 
by telling you a very interesting story about a 
poor woman who was happier than any other per- 
son in the town where she lived.” 

“ Do tell it, father ; nothing pleases me more 
than your good stories. I hope it is a long 
one.” 

“ It is long enough to prove that the poorest 
person on earth may be very happy. It is about 
a woman who lived in England. Her husband 
died very suddenly, and left her with three little 
children, without a cent in the world.” 

“Poor woman!” exclaimed Jane; “I should 
think her husband might have earned enough to 
have left her better off than that, if he was not 
lazy.” 

“Perhaps he thought as you do,” replied her 
fathei, jocosely, “that they are happiest who do 
not work.” 

Jane knew not what to reply ; so she remained 
silent. 

“I was saying that the poor woman of whom 
the story tells was left with three children to sup- 
port by her owr toil The eldest was only eight 




STORY OF THE POOR WOMAN. 


27 


years of age. It was, indeed, a hard lot. It is a 
great affliction to be left a widow, even with a 
plenty of money, and more to be left a 'widow 
without any. But, then, this poor woman was 
very happy ; and, on the evening after her hus- 
band was buried, one of the neighbors heard her 
singing and praising God as cheerfully as ever. 

“Was her husband a good man 7” inquired 
Jane, evidently much interested. 

“ Yes, he died very happy, which shows that it 
may be a happy new year to a person even though 
he dies ; about which I shall speak at some othf'r 
time.” 

“ Did she have a house of her own 7 ” inquired 
Jane. 

“ She lived in a sort of cabin which her husband 
made of slabs. It was a ’miserable dwelling, of 
course, and contained only one room. In a severe 
storm the rain would beat in so as to wet them. 
Beside, it was situated in a very lonely place, 
mostly surrounded by woods.” 

“ How do you know that she was happy there 7 ” 
asked Jane, as if she thought her father’s narrative 
was guess-work. 

“ Because,” answered Mr. Marlow, “ her min- 
ister took great interest in her, and wrote about 
her after she died. And what I was going to tell 


28 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


you, of special interest, is what I have learned from 
him. He was in the habit of sending his son, a lad 
about twelve years of age, quite often with a basket 
of provisions to this poor widow’s cabin. There 
had been a long, driving storm, so that people were 
not able to go out much. It lasted a week, and the 
minister began to think that the needy woman 
would starve before it was over.” 

Did she have nothing to eat all this time 7 ” 
inquired Jane, with much surprise. “ 0, the poor 
little children ! ” 

“ Yes, she doubtless had something to eat; but, 
depending much on the kindness of her neighbors 
for daily food, she would not be likely to have 
much before- hand. As I W'as saying, the minis- 
ter watched the clouds, to note the first signs of 
fair weather ; and, as'*soon as the storm was over, 
and the bright sun shone out in his splendor, he 
filled a basket with various kinds of food, and, 
having laid upon the top that beautiful tract called 
‘ ALL FOR THE BEST,’ Started off his son upon his 
errand of mercy. I shall not stop to tell you how 
the lad reached the cabin, nor the conversation 
which took place there, but only what occurred 
when he returned.” 

“I should like to know,” said Jane, “how he 


STORY OF THE POOR WOMAN. 


29 


found the poor woman and her children. That 
will be all the best of it.” 

“You will learn that from what I shall say. 
He was gone from home nearly two hours. When 
he returned, he ran into his father’s study, in great 
haste, as if he had something very important to 
communicate, and exclaimed, 

“ ‘Father, you will be astonished at what I have 
seen, when I tell you ! ’ 

“ ‘ And what have you seen, my son ? ’ 

“‘Why, before I got to Widow D ’s, I 

heard her singing like a lark.’ 

“‘Perhaps she was happy at seeing the sun 
once more,’ said his father. 

“ ‘ I don’t know what she was happy for, but I 
never knew any one who seemed happier. She 
kept on singing till I got right up to the door, 
which was wide open, and she was so engaged that 
she did not notice me. And what do you think I 
saw 7 ’ 

“ ‘Perhaps she saw you coming at a distance, 
and was praising and thanking God for aid,’ re- 
plied his father. 

“ ‘ Not that, not that,’ said Erasmus, — for that 
was the son’s name. ‘ I saw' her sitting at the 
table with her children, and there was nothing on 
it but a little piece of bread, not more than a quar- 
3 * 


80 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


ter as large as the loaf I carried, and yet she 
clasped her hands together,, and looked up toward 
heaven, and I heard her say, What, all this and 
Jesus Christ, too! — what, all this and Jesus 
Christ, too I ” ’ 

Happy, happy woman!’ said the delighted 
minister ; ^ fit to be the sister of Paul, who said, 
“ I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, there- 
with to be content ! ’” 

“ ‘ A happy woman, indeed ! ’ cried Erasmus, 
with much enthusiasm ; ‘ and I never saw a hap- 
pier one. When I asked her if she had not been 
lonesome during the long storm, she smiled, and 
said, ‘‘ No, indeed ! I was never happier. The 
Saviour has been my company all the time. No, 
my little man, happiness is not made of money, 
and handsome clothes, and a table full of dain- 
ties.” ’ ” 

Here Jane looked at her mother, and smiled. 
Her eyes revealed what she was thinking about. 
For you know that we can sometimes tell what a 
person is thinking about by looking at his eyes. 

“Erasmus continued, saying, ‘I shouldn’t 
have thought it, but 1 think she is as happy as 
you are.’ 

“ ‘ I dare say she is much happier,’ rejoined his 
father, ‘ because she is much better. The best 


STORY OF THE POOR WOMAN. 


81 


people are happiest, not the richest and most hon- 
ored.’ ” 

Jane here interrupted, by saying, “ I guess the 
children were a little happier, if their mother was 
not, when Erasmus showed his nice great basket 
full of food.” 

“ I was going to say, Erasmus told his hither 
that when he produced his basket of food ‘ the 
poor w'oman did not appear any happier than 
before, because she seemed as happy as she could 
be all the time.’ She was, indeed, very grateful, 
and showed her gratitude by saying, ‘ The Lord 
'provides for us.^ ” 

Mr. Marlow closed the story just as the clock 
struck nine, saying, that “ever after this, the 

woman was no longer known as Widow D , 

but was called ‘The Happy Woman,’ because 
she was the happiest person in toivn.” 

“ There, Jane,” said Mrs. Marlow, who had not 
spoken before, “what do you think now 7 Is 
money so necessary to make a person happy'? 
Did you ever hear of a rich man being so happy 
as to be called The Happy Man 7 ” 

“ No,” replied Jane, quite satisfied with the 
story ; “I think now that a person may be happy 
without being rich.” 

“ And do you not see that it is the mmd which 


32 


THE HAPPY HEW YEAR. 


made her happy ? ” inquired her father. If she 
had no money, honor and kindred things to make 
her happy, then she must have derived her enjoy- 
ment from something else. And since her body 
did not, and could not yield it, then it must have 
been her contented mind. And what is so likely 
to make one happy as a peaceful mind ? ’’ 

“I understand you now, father,” said Jane. 
‘‘I see that if it is the things which a person owns 
w^hich give happiness, and not the mind. Widow 

D would have been very wretched. Since 

she had nothing else to make her happy, it must 
have been her mind.” 

It was now long after the children’s usual bed 
time. Mr. Marlow promised to renew the subject 
the next evening, which would be the Sabbath. 
He bowed in prayer, and asked God to watch over 
them through the year just commenced. He now 
kissed Jane and Jenny, as their mother took them 
by the hand to lead them to their chamber, and 
said, “I WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR.” Jane 
wished him the same in return, but smiled, and 
looked queerly, as if she did not know exactly 
what a happy new year meant. 


CHAPTER IV. 

The Sabbath. — The sermon, “This year thou shalt die.’*-- 
Iinpression upon Jane. — Conversation renewed after meet- 
— Can honor and power confer happiness 1 — Alexander 
unhappy. — The mayor. 

The Sabbath morning came, and promised a 
beautiful day. Tlie trees, sprinkled over with 
snow and ice, appeared, in the light of the blazing 
sun, as if they w'ere loaded with diamonds and 
precious stones. The family were up with the 
sun, all hurrying to be ready at the ringing of the 
bell for meeting. Nor did the last summons find 
them unprepared. The house of worship w'as 
crowded with people, especially in the afternoon, 
anxious to hear the ne\v-year’s sermon. Even 
little Jane could hardly wniit for “ sermon-time,’^ 
as she called it, because she had heard so much 
about the new-year’s wish on the previous evening. 
She was never so much interested before to hear a 
sermon. And when the preacher rose in the desk 
to announce his text, she turned her eyes toward 
her father, with a look which would h ive revealed 


34 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


her thoughts to all, had they known the subject of 
conversation on Saturday night. 

The minister gave his text, Jeremiah 28 : 16, 
“ This year' thou s/ialt die.^^ Solemn theme ! 
a text which is calculated to make every child, and 
every parent, too, exclaim, What if I should die 
this year?” 

He went on to speak of the flight of time, hoAV 
swiftly the years are passing away, making life 
shorter and shorter. 

Jane looked at her father as if she thought of 
what he had told her about Thomas Jones and his 
sister making themselves merry when they had 
one year less to live. 

He spoke of the joyous feelings which the young 
and old cherish at the opening of the year, and how 
these joys might be destroyed before its close. He 
spoke of some who commenced the last year in 
health, and promised to live long, but who were 
now in the grave. He said they were of all ages 
and conditions, the young and the old, the rich 
and the poor. He told how many died the pre- 
ceding year. He dwelt upon the necessity of 
being prepared to die, and said that a good hope 
in Christ was Avorth more than a thousand worlds. 
He showed that wealth and honor were of little 
value to a person in sickness and death, and that, 


new-year’s sermon. 


35 


in the most favorable circumstances, they could 
not yield any real happiness. 

Here Jane looked at her father again, with an 
expression which was full of meaning ; for she 
thought that the minister agreed with him exactly 
in all that he had said about money. 

He gave many facts to show that the most 
wealthy and honored persons had been very un- 
happy in seasons of adversity, and especially in 
view of death. And, in closing, he spoke of the 
custom among men, women and children, of wish- 
ing each other a happy new year. He expressed 
the same wish to all before him, and especially to 
the youth, and said that, if they would give their 
hearts to God, whether sick or well, living or 
dying, it would certainly be the happiest year of 
their lives. 

Jane scarcely turned her eyes from the minister 
during all the time he was preaching, except when 
she looked at her father. And her father was 
much interested, because the views of the minister 
coincided so perfectly with his own as expressed 
to his daughter. He thought it would impress 
the lessons which he had already imparted, more 
indelibly upon her mind, and prepare her to receive 
those which he designed to give at the close of the 
day. 


86 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


Jane did not speak a word during all the way 
home. She was thinking of the sermon and a 
happy new year. Her fatlier, too, was very 
thoughtful. 

No sooner were they seated around the com- 
fortable fire at home, than Mr. Marlow inquired, 
“ Well, Jane, did not our pastor preach just what 
I told you last night 7 ” 

“Yes, father, I think he did. I thought you 
would like the sermon, because he agreed with 
you.” 

“And did he not say more than I did last even- 
ing 7 He proved one thing which I was going to 
talk with you about to-night, — that honor cannot 
make men happy. I think you said, that to be 
honored and placed in some high office might 
make a happy new year, did you not 7 ” 

“ I do not recollect whether I did or not; but I 
always thought that a governor, or general, or 
president, must be very happy. I remember what 
you told me about General Lafayette ; how the 
people respected him, and what a display they 
made with soldiers and music when he visited this 
country. And, last year, when President Fillmore 
visited some cities, I heard you say that they 
closed the stores, and all the great men went out 
to meet him, and the women and children flung 


ALEXANDER UNHAPPY. 


37 


bunches of flowers into his carriage from the 
windows.” 

“ And this is what makes you think that men 
who fill high offices, and exercise great power over 
their fellow-men, are happy ^ is it?” inquired Mr. 
Marlow. 

“Yes, sir.” 

“ Do you not remember what our pastor said 
to-day about the great general, Alexander ?” 

“I remember something, but he did not tell 
enough about him for me to understand.” 

“ Alexander lived many years ago, and was one 
of the greatest generals ever known. He conquered 
many countries ; and when he had conquered all 
the kingdoms far and near, he, of course, had a 
larger empire to rule over than any president or 
king ever had. Of course he was very rich, too. 
Do you remember now what our pastor said were 
his feelings as he looked upon all his possessions, 
and thought of his power ? Was he happy ? ” 

“No, father ; he said that he sat down and 
wept.” 

“ What should he weep for, if he was happy ?” 

“ He was not happy,” said Jane, “ or he would 
not have wept.” 

“Did he not have enough honor and riches to 

4 


38 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


make him happy, if these are able to make any 
one happy ? ” inquired her father. 

“ I should think he had, if he had more than 
any one else ever possessed.” 

Does it not seem, then, as if these possessions 
could not confer true happiness '? ” 

“ I think it does. If they could, I think Alex- 
ander would have been very happy.” 

“ Can you tell me why he was not happy ? ” 

“I suppose, according to what you say, it was 
because his mind was not happy.” 

“Do you think the many cares and troubles 
which a ruler must have in managing a state, or 
nation, are suited to make his mind peaceful ? 
Will they not disturb the mind, rather than make 
it happy ? ” 

“ I should think they would.” 

‘ ‘ Can a person depend upon honor or po^ver, 
then, to increase his enjoyment? I mean such 
enjoyment as will not be parted with in a day.” 

“Ao, I think they cannot. For I see that as 
soon as the honor is taken away, or the power, 
then all the happiness which they give must be 
taken away, too.” 

“ Then there are two reasons which you have 
given,” said her father, “why neither wealth, 
honor nor power, can make men really happy. 


THE MAYOR. 


89 


One is, the happiness which men expect to derive 
from them can last no longer than they do ; and 
as the wealth, honor, or power, may be removed 
any moment, so may the supposed happiness which 
they give be taken away at any moment. Now, 
the thought that one’s happiness is so uncertain 
must make him unhappy.” 

“I see that,” interrupted Jane; “what is the 
other reason 7 ” 

“ The other is, that all such possessions are not 
suited to make the mind peaceful, but rather to 
disturb it. That is, as our minister said to-day, ‘ in 
their nature they are unsuited to make one happy.’ 
And this last is the best reason of the two.” 

“ Father, do you know of any other great per- 
son who was unhappy like Alexander 7 ” 

“ Yes, a great many. It was only two or three 
years ago that the mayor of one of our large cities 
declared, when he vacated his office, that he rejoiced 
to leave it, as he had not been happy for a moment 
in it, and yet he was a very popular mayor, and 
might have been rejected.” 

Here the bell rang for supper, and the conver- 
sation ceased. 


CHAPTER V. 

Tho pleasure-life. — Will pleasure confer happiness '? — Mr. 
Marston’s and Mr. Gladstone’s children. — The playthings. 
— The ride. — Mr. Gladstone’s misfortune. — His children 
happy. — Lord Chesterfield. — Solomon. 

‘‘Jane,” said Mr. Marlow, after supper was 
finished, “I believe you told me, the other day, 
that you read a story in your little paper about 
the pleasure-life. Now, many children think that 
those people who have money enough to buy for 
themselves all the pleasures and amusements they 
want, are very happy. Perhaps you think that a 
good share of pleasures would make this a happy 
new year to you.” 

“ Yes, father, I have thought before to-day that 
it was so.” 

“ And what has changed your mind to-day ? ” 

“The sermon which our minister preached. You 
know he told about a man who had all the pleasures 
he wanted, and yet he was very unhappy when he 
was sick and dying.” 

“Yes, it was Chesterfield,” said her father. 


MB. MARSTON’s family. 


41 


“I used to think,” continued Jane, ‘Hhat Mr. 
Marston’s children must be much happier than we 
are, because they have so many pleasures. Their 
father is so rich, that they can ride and journey 
when they wish, and go to all the concerts and 
amusements they please, and have all the dresses 
and playthings they want. And I do think now 
that it would be real pleasure to ride in their fine 
carriage.” 

“ But do you think that Mr. Marston’s children 
are any happier than Mr. Gladstone’s ? You 
know that Mr. Gladstone was once very rich when 
he lived in the city, but he became poor by his 
great losses, and had to remove into the country, 
and now labors with all his family to secure a 
living.” 

Yes, sir, I do think that Mr. Gladstone’s chil- 
dren cannot be as happy as Mr. Marston’s. I 
should think it would make them unhappy to 
think how well off they were once, and now they 
are poor, and can have scarcely one of the pleas- 
ures which they used to possess.” 

Here Jane’s mother, who had not spoken a word 
since supper, interrupted, by saying to her, ‘‘I 
think I can tell you some things about them, Jane, 
which may alter your mind. You know that your 
father and I have visited much in both of these 
4 * 


42 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


families, and we have been so intimate with each 
other that we have seen the children very often. 
I can tell you what I saw and heard at Mr. Mars- 
ton’s the very last afternoon I spent there.” 

“Was it anything about Helen or George?” 
asked Jane, with much apparent interest. 

“ That is what I am going to tell you. I had 
not been there a half-hour before George came 
whining to his mother, and said, ‘What shall I 
play, mother ? Tell me something to play.’ 

“ ‘Play with your rocking-horse, my son,’ re- 
plied his mother. ‘ And there is your little wagon 
in the nursery, go and draw that.’ 

“ ‘I don’t want either of them,’ said George, 
angrily. ‘ I want to play something else.’ 

“ ‘ There is your new wheel-barrow in the yard. 
Your marbles, too, are in the dining-room. And 
you have not used your swing but a little since 
your father put it up.’ 

“ ‘I have played with these enough, mother; I 
want something new. I wish father would buy me 
something when he goes to the city.’ 

“ ‘ Go away, my son ; be a good boy. Go and 
ride your rocking-horse, and you shall ride with 
the greys to-morrow, if father goes.’ 

“ ‘I don’t want to ride with the greys. I am 
tired of riding so much. If father would buy me 


THE PLAYTHINGS. 


43 


a pony, I should like to ride that. I should think 
I might have one. I don’t have anything.’ 

“ I thought by this time. Jane,” said Mrs. Mar- 
low, “of the many children who have no rocking- 
horse, and no coach to ride in. And it seemed to 
me that the more amusements George Marston 
had, the less happy he was. Do you think, now, 
that his many pleasures made him happier than 
Willie Gladstone is ? ” 

“ No, mother ; and it seems strange to me that 
he could n’t be happy with so many things. What 
did his mother say when he said he did n’t have 
anything 7 ” 

“ She looked tried, and turned to me and said, 
‘ George is a very discontented child.’ My own 
opinion is, that he was more discontented because 
he had so many pleasures.” 

“Was Josephine so unhappy, mother 7 ” asked 
Jane. “ Did you see her 7 ” 

“You may judge of that yourself,” replied her 
mother. “Josephine came home from school at 
recess, in order to ride with her parents out of 
town. My unexpected visit prevented their going, 
though I should not have stopped if Mrs. Marston 
had informed me of her plans. As soon as she 
came into the house, she exclaimed. 


44 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


‘‘ ‘ Have I kept you waiting, mother ? I came 
home as fast as I could.’ 

‘‘ ‘ My dear, we shall not be able to go this 
afternoon ; and I am sure you will not be dis- 
appointed, for here is Mrs. Marlow come to see 
us.’ 

“ I never saw Josephine look so unhappy be- 
fore,” said Mrs. Marlow. “ She turned her eyes 
at me as if she thought I was the cause of her 
disappointment ; then, bursting into tears, she 
cried aloud, 

‘‘ ‘ It is always so, mother. I never can go 
when I want to. It has been so ever so many 
times. I don’t ride any.’ 

‘‘‘Hush! hush, my child!’ interrupted her 
mother, quite mortified that I should hear and 
see so much. ‘ Mrs. Marlow will not have a very 
good report to carry to Jane. I never saw her 
behave so.’ ” 

Jane turned to her father with a look which told 
that she was quite pleased with the compliment, 
and her mother went on with her story. 

“Josephine wiped her face, after she had cried 
long enough, but looked very unhappy. She had 
dolls of different sizes, two beautiful little tea-sets, 
chairs, tables, sofa, and every sort of knick-knack 
which a child could have ; but she did not want to 


THE HIDE. 


45 


touch them. And in a very short time she cried 
out, 

‘‘ ‘ Mother, I ’ll warrant it will rain to-morrow 
afternoon, so that I can’t go to see Ellen Green- 
wood. You know it is Wednesday afternoon, 
when school will not keep. There is always 
something ’ 

“ ‘ Hush, my dear ! ’ interrupted her mother : 
‘ what makes you think it will rain to-morrow 7 ’ 

“ ‘Because, when I was coming home, I heard 
Mr. James tell his hired man that he thought it 
would rain to-morrow. I think it is too bad. I 
could n’t go last Wednesday because it rained. I 
never go anywhere.’ 

“ ‘ Perhaps it will not rain to-morrow. You had 
better wait and see, before you make yourself so 
unhappy.’ 

“ ‘ Well, there is but one Wednesday afternoon 
in a week for me to visit, and I don’t see why God 
could nU make it rain some other day as well as 
Wednesday.’ 

“It chilled my blood,” said Mrs. Marlow, “to 
hear her thus find fault with God. And her 
mother felt it, too, although she is a worldly 
woman. She, however, made the best of it, and 
persuaded Josephine to leave the room, when she 
said to me, 


46 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


“ ‘I do not understand why my children are so 
discontented. They are not easy a moment unless 
they are going somewhere, or having something 
new. And yet we try to make them happy by 
gratifying their wishes, and obtaining for them 
everything to amuse them.’ 

“I know,” said Mrs. Marlow to Jane, ‘‘why 
they were so unhappy.” 

“ Why, mother ‘I ” asked Jane, earnestly ; “ did 
you tell her 7 ” 

“No, of course not. But I knew it was be- 
cause they furnished them with so many pleasures. 
It cultivated their love for them, so that the more 
they had the more they wanted, and the less sat- 
isfied were they. Now, do you think yourself, 
Jane, that Mr. Marston’s children may be called 
happy?” 

“ I do not ; but I should never have thought it. 
If pleasures will make anybody happy, I should 
think thei/ had enough of them to do it. But 
how do you know that Mr. Gladstone’s children 
are not as unhappy as Josephine and George 7 ” 

“ I will tell you,” replied Mrs. Marlow, “ what 
Mr. Gladstone himself told us. He was doing 
business in the city on a very extensive scale, and 
was worth many thousands of dollars. He lived 
in a beautiful house, elegantly furnished, although 


MR. Gladstone’s misfortune. 


4T 


he lived less extravagantly than Mr. Marston does 
now. He and his wife were pious, and thought it 
wrong to spend all their money upon themselves, 
and have little or none to give to the poor and 
perishing. He was very kind and benevolent, an’d 
taught his children that wealth is not a blessing 
unless it is used in doing good. He early made 
them feel that he would rather they would be good 
than rich, and taught them not to depend upon 
earthly possessions for happiness. Elizabeth and 
Frederick, the two eldest, became pious when quite 
young, and united with the church.” 

And what made him poor?” inquired Jane, 
impatient to hear. 

‘‘I was about to say,” replied her mother, “ that 
an unexpected prostration of business throughout 
the country made his losses so great that he was 
obliged to relinquish everything to his creditors, — 
house, store, goods, furniture, horses, carriages, — 
all. It was a sore trial to him. When he was 
first fully aware of what the end must be, he 
thought of his wife and children, and could iTardly 
make up his mind to tell them. He supposed it 
would make them very unhappy. He thought 
they would weep and repine over the sad misfor- 
tune.” 


48 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


seems hard,” interrupted Jane, ‘Hhat so 
good a man should lose all his money.” 

‘‘For several days he could not bear to tell 
them. But his wife, and Elizabeth and Freder- 
ick, sa\^ that he was troubled. He showed it in 
his countenance, and could not eat. At length, 
Mrs. Gladstone inquired into the cause of this 
change in his appearance. It was late in the 
evening, after the children had retired. He dis- 
closed to her the whole of his affairs, and his 
intention of leaving the city for an humble country 
residence.” 

“Did it not almost break her heart?” asked 
Jane, with great concern. 

“Far from it,” replied her mother ; “ the very 
first words she uttered were, ‘ My dear husband, 
money is the last thing I would be distressed about. 
I have never depended much upon being rich ; for 
wo read that riches certainly make themselves 
wings ; and our observation fully proves it. Be- 
sides, I have thought we needed such a discipline 
as this to humble our hearts, and cause us to learn 
that “ all things work together for good to them 
that love God.” ’ 

“Mr. Gladstone was greatly relieved by these 
words,” continued Mrs. Marlow; “and it was 


CHILDREN HAPPY. 


49 


agreed that the children should be informed upon 
the following day. 

“ The morning came, and with it the usual life 
and glee of the sons and daughters. Mr. Glad- 
stone went to his store, and his wife took her own 
way to convey to the children the unexpected 
intelligence that their father was now a poor 
man.” 

“ I should like to have been there,” said Jane, 
“and have seen how it made them feel, poor chil- 
dren.” 

“I am going to tell you. They all seemed 
greatly surprised, but Elizabeth said at once, 

“ ‘I hope father will not let this trouble him, 
mother. I am sure that Frederick and I can sup- 
port ourselves, and do something toward support- 
ing you and him. You know I can do almost any 
kind of needle- work, and can give lessons on the 
piano ; and I think I shall enjoy it better, because 
I shall feel that I am accomplishing something, 
and I never have felt so in the city.’ 

“ Frederick added, ‘ And for my part, I shall 
not be sorry at all to exchange the city for the 
country. I have always desired to live in the 
country and be a farmer. And you know, mother, 
that Dr. Hosmer told father last year, when he was 
so feeble, that it would benefit his health to live 
5 


50 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


on a farm. I am sure we should all be happier 
to make this exchange if it would improve father’s 
health. You have often said that God has good 
aesigns in every event. Perhaps he does this in 
order to send us to the country that father may 
enjoy good health.’ 

“Mrs. Gladstone could not help smiling, and 
her heart was never happier. Even Augusta, 
only ten years of age, declared that she should 
soon be old enough to do much for her parents, 
and was not at a loss in thinking of ways. And 
as for little Willie, the youngest, eight years old, 
he said, 

“ ‘ Then I will learn to trundle a hoop in the 
streets, and drive a horse. I was never so happy 
as when I have been at Uncle James’, in the 
country ; for I can run out doors as much as I 
please, and roll on the green grass, and pick 
flowers, and do a thousand things which I can’t 
do now.’ 

“All were so amused at Willie’s speech, that 
they almost forgot their poverty,” continued Mrs. 
Marlow. 

“ Did Mr. Gladstone tell you whether his chil- 
dren have been as happy here as they thought they 
should be ? ” asked Jane. 

“Yes; he told us that they had never been 


MR. Gladstone’s family happy, 51 


discontented at all. Although they have scarcely 
any of the means of worldly pleasure here which 
they had in the city, yet they have seemed to be 
happier. And they have even said, they would 
rather be poor and live in the country, with few 
amusements, than be rich and live in the city, as 
they did once.” 

“There, Jane,” exclaimed Mr. Marlow, “what 
do you think now about a pleasure-life, com- 
pared with a tvoRKiNG-LiFE 7 I think we may call 
Mr. Gladstone’s life, now, a working-life.” 

“I think,” replied Jane, “that such things 
prove a person may have a happy new year with- 
out such pleasures. It seems as if happiness does 
not depend upon things to amuse us.” 

“I am glad that you are thoroughly convinced 
of the fact,” said her father. “ And I wish to tell 
you something more about the famed Chesterfield, 
to whom our minister referred to-day. It will con- 
firm what your mother has been saying.” 

“Did he not call him Lord Chesterfield!’^ 
asked Jane. 

“ Yes. After he had sought pleasure on every 
hand, and was drawing nigh to the grave, he wrote 
these words, which I copied several years ago upon 
a blank leaf of this Bible : M have enjoyed all the 
pleasures of the world, and consequently know their 


52 


THE IIAPrY NEW YEAR. 


futility, and I do not regret tlieir loss. I appraise 
them at their real value, which is, in truth, very 
low ; whereas, those who have not experienced, 
always overrate them. They only see their gay 
outside, and are dazzled with their glare ; but I 
have been behind the scene.’ But a greater than 
Chesterfield, even Solomon, the wise man, has 
recorded a similar testimony in the Bible, in order 
to warn men to beware of the pleasure-life. He 
enjoyed more means of pleasure than any man 
whose history is known, as you will learn from 
what he says : ‘ I made me great works ; I builded 
me houses ; I planted me vineyards ; I made me 
gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them 
of all kinds of fruit ; I made me pools of water, 
to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth 
trees ; I got me servants and maidens, and had 
servants born in my house ; also I had great pos- 
sessions of great and small cattle, above all that 
were in Jerusalem before me ; I gathered me also 
silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings, 
and of the provinces ; I got me men-singers and 
women- singers, and the delights of the sons of 
men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 
So I was great, and increased more than all that 
were before me in Jerusalem ; also my wisdom 
remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes 


LORD CIIESIERFIELD. 


53 


desired I kept not from them. I withheld not my 
heart from any joy.’ ” 

‘‘And yet he was not happy, was he?” inquired 
Jane, getting such ideas from the passage as she 
had not before. 

“Hear what he says in view of it,” answered 
her mother : ‘ And I looked on all the works that 
my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I 
had labored to do ; and, behold, all was vanity and 
vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under 
the sun.’ ” 

“Vanity and vexation of spirit ! ” repeated 
Mr. hlarlow ; “ that does not sound like deriving 
happiness from the pleasure-life, does it ? ” 

“ I did not know before that there was so much 
in the Bible about it,” said Jane. 

“To-morrow evening I shall have more to say,” 
added Mr Marlow ; so they dismissed the subject 
and made preparations to retire. 

5 * 


CHAPTER VI. 

Monday evening. — Can a person be happy in sickness t — 
Pive blessings derived from sickness. — The story of the 
wonderful sight. 

It was Monday evening. At an early hour Mr. 
Marlow introduced the subject of conversation 
which was dismissed on the previous evening. 

“ You said, Jane, that in order to have a happy 
new year, it was necessary to enjoy health. You 
thought that we might have such a year if none 
of us were sick. Do you think that a person can- 
not be happy in sickness ? ” 

“ Why, yes, father,” replied Jane, ‘‘ a sick per- 
son is the last one I should expect to find happy. 
If I knew that I should be very sick this year, it 
would make me unhappy to think of it.” 

“ Think you could not be happy in sickness, if 
you thought God sent it for your good 7 ’ ’ 

Perhaps I might, if I only could feel it was 
good to be sick. I know that you have told me 
about such things being good for us, but I don’t 
see that it ever did me any good to he sick.” 


BLESSINGS DERIVED FROM SICKNESS. 55 


“ Are not people who are seldom sick generally 
ungrateful for the blessing of health? And do 
not sick people feel their dependence upon God 
more '? ’ ’ 

Yes, father, I think that is true.” 

‘‘ Then there is one good it does people to be 
sick. Do you not think that sick people have 
more sympathy for others who are sick than well 
people have 7 ” 

‘‘ I should think they did. I remember, when 
mother was sick a few weeks ago, how pitifully she 
spoke of poor Fanny Leonard who has been sick so 
long.” 

“There is another good that sickness does,” 
said Mr. Marlow. “Are not people generally 
more likely to think of God and eternity when 
sick than when in health 7 ” 

“ Perhaps they are,” answered Jane. “People 
can’t be as cheerful when sick as when they are 
well ; and so they -would be more solemn, and 
think of serious things more.” 

“Then there are three blessings which you 
admit sickness gives. Did you never hear of even 
wicked men becoming better when made sick?” 
inquired Mr. Marlow, with increased earnestness ; 
for he supposed that Jane must remember such a 
case in their own neighborhood. 


56 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


‘‘Why, yes, father,” replied Jane, with much 
interest ; “ don’t you recollect how old Mr. John- 
son used to swear and drink, and how he abused 
his family ? And since he was so dreadful sick, 
last winter, they say he is very kind and sober ; 
and I saw him at meeting last Sabbath.” 

‘ ‘ There is yet another good which sickness does. 
And did you never hear of persons being made 
Christians by sickness 7 ” 

“ I don’t recollect any one, though I may have 
heard of some one.” 

“ You know that Deacon Valentine is very active 
in our prayer-meetings. A few years ago he was 
a wicked man ; but when he was very sick, and 
thought he must die, he sent for our pastor to 
pray with him, and he became a Christian.” 

“I have always thought,” said Jane, “that he 
is one of the best men in town.” 

“ Now we have already discovered five good 
things which sickness does, and, if I had time, I 
might name more.” 

“I see now, father, how a person can be happy, 
even though he is sick ; he must feel that God does 
it for his good.” 

“ That is it, my daughter; then the mind will be 
undisturbed, and, of course, peaceful. You know 
I showed you yesterday that men can be happy 


THE WONDERFUL SIGHT. 


67 


only when the mind is contented. Now I will tell 
you a very interesting story, which proves all I 
have said.” 

“I am glad of that,” said Jane; can un- 
derstand you much better when you talk by 
stories.” 

So her father began to tell her the story about 
Rev. Henry Venn and his children. Jane listened 
with new interest, and even Jenny opened her 
dozy eyes a little wider at the announcement that 
a story was forthcoming. 

“Mr. Venn told his children one day,” said Mr. 
Marlow, “that he would take them to see one of 
the most interesting sights in the world. 

“ ‘ What is it 7 — what is it 7 ’ inquired Albert 
and Eliza ; ‘ when will we go 7 ’ 

“ ‘ I know what it is,’ said Roseline, as she sat 
dressing her doll ; ‘ when I went to the store with 
mother, the other day, I saw a large show-bill, with 
all sorts of animals on it, and I heard a man say 
that they w^ere coming to town this week, I guess 
it is that.’ 

“ Mr. Venn would not tell his children what it 
was they were going to see,” continued Mr. Mar- 
low ; “ but he assured them it was one of the 
most interesting sights to himself that he knew of. 


58 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


The children were guessing all the day long, and 
hardly could wait for the morrow to come.” 

‘‘I think I know exactly how they felt,” said 
Jane, smiling. “I know how I felt the night 
before new-year’s day.” 

Mr. Marlow smiled at Jane’s remark, and con- 
tinued the story. “ The next morning, as soon 
as the children were up, Mr. Venn said to them, 
‘ Now, my children, to-day I will show you the 
sight.’ It put them all in a glee, and the ‘ sight ! 
the sight ! ’ was all the talk, until the horse and 
carriage stood at the door.” 

Was it so far they had to ride, father 7 ” in- 
quired Jane. 

“It was quite a distance,” replied her father; 
“ but they were soon on their way, and it was not 
long before they lost sight of the village. Through 
a long tract of woodland they rode, over a by-road 
which was very little travelled, and at length came 
out into an open field. 

“ ‘ There,’ said Mr. Venn, pointing to a most 
wretched habitation some fifty rods distant, ‘we 
are going to that house.’ 

“ The children looked at each other, and then at 
their father, with an air of wonder, and Roseline 
cried out, 

“ ‘ Is that the sight, father 7 ’ 


THE WONDEEFUL SIGHT. 


69 


‘‘‘We shall soon see,’ he replied. ‘Did you 
ever see such a miserable dwelling as that 7 ’ 

“ ‘ Does any one live there 7 ’ asked Eliza. 

“ ‘Yes, and we are going there,’ said her father. 

“For what they were going there the children 
could not understand,” continued Mr. Marlow. 
“ They were now more perplexed than ever to 
know wEat the wonderful sight could be. It cer- 
tainly was not the collection of wild animals which 
Roseline supposed. And what very wonderful 
thing could be seen in such a wretched-looking 
house, they could not imagine. But they soon 
reached the house. 

“ ‘ Should you think, children,’ inquired Mr. 
Venn, ‘ that a happy person could live here 7 ’ 

“ ‘ No,’ said Eliza ; ‘ it makes me homesick to 
look at it.’ 

“ ‘ The poor-house is a palace to it,’ said Albert. 

“ ‘ Now,’ said Mr. Venn, as they alighted, ‘ I 
will tell you what the sight is. In this miserable 
dwelling there is a young man lying upon the bed, 
sick with a fever, and having nine dreadful ulcers 
on his body.’ ” 

“ I don’t think there is much interesting about 
that,” said Jane ; “and you said that he told his 
children he would show them the most interesting 
eight they ever saw. You don’t think it is very 


60 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


pleasant to see a man with nine ulcers on his body, 
do you ? ” 

“Hear, hear!” replied her father. “He led 
them into the house, and all the while little Rose- 
line clung to him as if she were going into a den 
of wild animals. The first door they opened dis- 
closed the sight, for there was only one room in 
the house. There lay the young man, thin and 
pale, and fast wasting away. Mr. Venn looked 
at the young man, and thus spoke : ‘ Abraham 
Midwood, I have brought my children here to 
show them that it is possible to be happy in a 
state of disease, poverty and w^ant ; now tell them 
if it is not so.’ The sick and dying youth replied 
with a sweet smile : 

“ ‘ 0, yes, sir ! I would not change my state 
with that of the richest person on earth, who has 
not an interest in Christ. Blessed be God I I 
have a good hope, through Christ, of being ad- 
mitted into those blessed regions where Lazarus 
now dwells, having long forgot all his sorrows and 
miseries. Sir, this is nothing to bear while the 
presence of God cheers my soul. Indeed, sir, I 
am truly happy, and I trust to be happy through 
eternity.’ 

“Mr. Venn turned to his children and said, 

‘ This is the interesting sight which I wished to 


THE EVENING PRAYER. 


61 


show you, — that a man, and a young man, too, can 
be truly happy without wealth, fame, or health. 
From this time, remember that happiness does 
not depend upon worldly prosperity, but upon a 
mind at peace with God. For here you learn that, 
in poverty and sickness, the truest happiness may 
be enjoyed.’ ” 

“There, Jane,” said Mrs. Marlow, “I think 
there is no need of saying more to convince you 
that we may have a happy new year, even though 
we are sick.” 

“We certainly should be happy if we felt as 
that young man did,” said Jane. 

The evening was now far spent. Mr. Marlow 
commended the family to God in prayer ; and soon 
all were silent in the sleep of night. 

6 


CHAPTER VII. 


The sad news. — Can a person be happy without eyes 1 — Jane’s 
Sunday School paper. — Story of Julia Brace, deaf, dumb 
and blind, yet happy. 

The conversation about a happy new year 
seemed to be ended ; but one day an incident 
occurred to revive it. A letter came with sad 
tidings to the family. A little cousin of Jane, 
about the same age, living in a distant part of the 
state, had been badly burned by the bursting of a 
camphene lamp, and the letter brought the sad 
intelligence. Her eyes were entirely destroyed. 

“ Poor, poor Sarah ! ” exclaimed Jane, as her 
mother read the letter ; ‘‘ will she never see 
again ? ” 

‘‘It is shocking, indeed ! ” replied her mother. 
“ Poor girl ! Never more to see the light of the 
sun ! The new year has commenced sadly to 
her ! ” 

“ 0, how wretched she must be, mother ! ” — 
“ can nothing be done for her, to make her see 
again ? ” 


CAN ONE BE HAPPY WITHOUT EYES 1 63 


Probably not,” answered Mrs. Marlow. “ It 
will be all darkness to her hereafter. How I pity 
her ! ” 

Here Mr. Marlow came in from the store, and 
the sad news was told him. His sympathy was 
excited for little Sarah, she had been so unfortu- 
nate, and he gave expression to his surprise and 
tender feeling by many ejaculations. 

“I think, father,” said Jane, ‘‘it must be far 
from a happy new year to Cousin Sarah. How 
unhappy a blind person must be ! ” 

“True, very true, my daughter,” rejoined her 
father. “Sarah never experienced so great a 
trial, and I think it will be the saddest year of 
her life. But then we ought to be thankful that 
she was not killed outright.” 

Business called Mr. Marlow hastily away. 
Sarah’s terrible misfortune was the subject of 
frequent conversation thereafter, and a note ex- 
pressive of great sympathy was despatched to the 
afflicted family. Jane’s thoughts were almost in- 
cessantly upon Sarah, and she was often heard to 
say, “ Poor girl, how unhappy ! ” 

The following Sabbath, came Jane’s Sunday 
School paper. This was always quite a treat. As 
usual, she sat down to read it after meeting. She 


64 


THE HAPPY KEW YEAR. 


had not read long before she exclaimed, in a loud 
voice : 

“ Cousin Sarah may be happy yet, mother. 
Here is a beautiful story about Julia Brace, who 
could not see, hear nor speak, and yet she was 
very cheerful and happy.” 

Indeed ! ” said Mrs. Marlow, “ that is a more 
dreadful misfortune than Sarah’s. She can yet 
speak and hear, and these are very great blessings. 
We are seldom so much afflicted that we cannot 
find others still more so. But let me hear about 
Julia Brace. I dare say your father would like 
to hear you read it.” 

‘‘I should, indeed,” said Mr. Marlow, laying 
aside the book which he was reading. 

So Jane began to read, and the story was as 
follows : — 

‘‘Julia Brace can neither see, hear nor speak ; 
yet she is a very good girl. Though she cannot 
see nor hear, yet she can tell more about things, 
by touching and smelling them, than you can by 
the same means. When clothes are given her, she 
feels of them, and smells them, and she likes those 
that are finest. 

“ Some kind-hearted people sent her to school. 
But what could she learn there ? She could 
neither see to read, nor hear anything the teacher 


JULIA BRACE. 


65 


said ; yet she did learn something there. She 
learned that the rest of the children spent most of 
their time in looking on their books ; and so she 
would hold one before her eyes a great while at a 
time, though she could not see a single letter. 
She thought her kitten could learn to read, and 
she would spread a newspaper before it, and put 
her hand on its mouth, to find whether it was 
moving its lips, as the children did when reading ; 
and when she found it did not, she would shake it, 
for she thought it did not try to learn.” 

Here Jenny, who sat in her little chair beside 
her mother, had a hearty laugh, and Jane kept on 
reading, though she looked then as if she would 
like to laugh too. 

‘‘Julia spent most of her time in knitting and 
sewing ; and she made many beautiful things 
which were sold to buy clothes for her. Indeed, 
she would do things more difficult still. Gentle- 
men who visited her would give her their watches, 
and then try to get from her the ones that w'ere 
not their own ; but she never would give up one 
of them except to its owner. How could she tell 
the men, or the watches apart, when she could not 
see 7 That is strange, indeed. 

“Julia is very neat, and keeps her things in 
excellent order. If any one misplaces anything 
6 * 


66 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


in her drawers, she soon finds it out, and puts the 
thing back in its place. When the clotlies are 
brought in, after being washed, in great baskets, 
she will go and pick out her own, without mistake. 
If her clothes are beginning to wear out, she dis- 
covers it and mends them. 

“ She never takes anything which does not be- 
long to her, and keeps the Sabbath very strictly, 
and seems to be thinking of serious things. 
Though no one else can teach her, yet God can 
teach her ; for he can speak to the mind by the 
Holy Spirit. 

‘‘A great many more things I might tell you 
about this interesting girl, but I will not be te- 
dious to you. One thing more I want to tell you. 
She is very good natured, cheerful and contented. 
I think I never saw a happier girl than she is 
generally. There are many children and youth 
who not only can see and hear and speak, but who 
have everything they wish for amusement and 
pleasure, and yet they are very peevish and fret- 
ful. They are happy only at times. But Julia 
Brace is always so happy that it makes every- 
body else happy to see her. 

“How strange,” said Jane, as soon as she had 
finished the story; “how strange that she can 
be so happy ! I mean to read this story to Sarah 


JULIA BRACE. 


6T 


tVie first time I see her. If Julia Brace can be 
happy without seeing, hearing or speaking, then I 
should think Cousin Sarah might be happy without 
seeing, because she can hear and speak.” 

“Yes,” added her mother, “any person, how- 
ever much afflicted, can be happy if he loves God. 
You know what you learned the other day, that a 
peaceful mind makes a person happy, and the 
mind is made peaceful by truly believing that God 
orders all things for our good. Now, cannot a 
person feel that being made blind is for his good, 
as really as being made sick 7 ” 

“ Yes, mother ; only I should think it would be 
harder to feel so when one is blind than when he 
is sick.’’ 

“ That is very true. It would require a holier 
heart to be contented and happy without eyes, than 
to be so without health. What I mean is. that if 
a person is good enough, he can be happy even 
though he cannot see nor hear.” 

“ Are you not convinced now. Jane,” inquired 
Mr. Marlow, “that it may be a happy new year 
to a person who is even deaf, dumb and blind 7 ” 
Jane smiled, as if she thought that now every 
event had something to do with a happy new year, 
and said that the story of Julia Brace made it 
appear so. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


Can it be a happy new year to one who dies 1 — Dr. Payson. — 
Dr. Watts. — The stranger boy and the minister’s visit. 


The conversation about the deaf, dumb and blind 
girl was discontinued by a remark of Mr. Marlow 
which introduced another topic. 

‘‘Jane,” said he, “there is another matter which 
I ought to speak about before we dismiss this sub- 
ject of the happy new year.” 

“What can it be, father?” inquired Jane, as 
if she thought they had talked about almost every- 
thing which could belong to it. 

“It is about dying,” answered Mr. Marlow. 

‘ This is a very solemn subject, and one which 
people, and especially young people, are prone to 
forget. Do you think this year would be a happy 
one to you if you should die ?” 

“What! be happy to die, and leave you and 
mother ? ” exclaimed Jane. 

“ Do you not think that a person maybe happy 
even in death ] ” 


DR. PAYSON. 


69 


have not thought so ; but you have talked 
so much about it, that I begin to think a person 
may be happy almost anywhere.” 

But you have certainly heard our minister 
speak at funerals, when he told how happy the 
persons were when they died.” 

“I know that,” replied Jane; “but I didn’t 
see them die. I thought you meant to ask me 
about what I knew, from seeing persons die 
myself.” 

“Then you do believe that persons may be 
happy even in the hour of death ? ” 

Jane hesitated, but- finally replied in the affirm- 
ative, adding, “I may be better convinced if I 
hear more about such persons.” 

“I will convince you, then,” said her father, 
rising and going to the bookcase for a volume. 
“Here is a book called the Last Hours of the 
Dying, which contains many such examples.” 

“Does it tell about any persons whom you know, 
father 7 ” 

“ It tells about one man whom I have seen. He 
was a minister of the gospel, and I vrent to hear 
him preach once.” 

“ Was it Uncle James’ minister, who died last 
year 7 ” 

“ No, my dear ; but it is one of whom you have 


TO 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


often heard. It is Dr. Payson. Just before he 
died he uttered the following happy language.” 

Here Mr. Marlow read from the book, “The 
celestial city is now full in my view. Its glories 
beam upon me. Its sounds s.trike upon my ear, 
and its spirit is breathed into my heart. Nothing 
separates me from it but the river of death, and 
this appears but an insignificant rill, which may be 
crossed by a single step, whenever God shall give 
permission.” 

Is not that such language as a happy person 
would utter ? ” asked her father. 

‘ I think it is ; and if he felt so, death could not 
have been dreadful to tuio.” 

‘ Did not the apostle declare tliat for him to die 
was gain '1 ” 

“ Yes, sir ; and that was in my Sabbath School 
lesson a little while ago,” said Jane, with much 
zeal. 

Then, if a person is prepared to meet death, it 
is not so terrible, is it 7 ” 

‘‘ It seems so from that,” answered Jane. 

There is another example,” continued Mr. 
Marlow, “ which I remember. I never saw the 
man, but have heard much about him, and so have 
you. It is Dr. Watts.” 

^^Did he not write our hymn-book^ father 7 


WU. W^TTf], 


71 


“ \es, it is the same man. You would judge, 
from his psalms and hymns, that he was a very 
good man, ready at all times to die ; should you 
not '? ” 

‘‘ I think I should ; and I should like to hear 
something more about him. I am sure I should 
always remember it on the Sabbath, when I look 
into the hymn-book.” 

“ Well, when Dr. Watts was about to die, and 
his suffering was very great, he raised his eyes, 
and, addressing the friends at his bed-side, said, 
‘I bless God I can lie down with comfort at night, 
not being solicitous whether I awake in this world 
or another.’ ” 

“ Do you think,” inquired Jane, “that he would 
not rather have lived 7 ” 

“I think,” answered her father, “that he would 
rather have experienced just what was the Lord’s 
will ; so he was not anxious whether he lived or 
died.” 

“ Father, you have told me about men who were 
happy in death ; did you ever hear of a child, no 
older than I am, who died happy 7 ” 

“ Certainly; I have heard of a great many.” 

“ Will you please tell me about one 7 ” 

“ I will tell you of a boy, not more than ten or 
eleven years of age, of whom the Sabbath School 


72 


TUE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


agent spoke when he was here last year. Perhaps 
you have forgotten it.’* 

‘‘I do not remember that he said anything about 
a boy who was happy when he died.” 

‘ ‘ Perhaps you will remember more about it as 
I proceed with the story. A minister saw a little 
boy come into his meeting-house one Sabbath, and 
.take a seat upon the pulpit stairs; and this, of 
course, attracted his notice.” 

Jenny laughed that the little boy should take a 
seat on the pulpit stairs, and Jane exclaimed, 

‘‘ Did he not know any better, father ? ” 

‘•There are some children,” said Mr. Marlow, 
“ who have no seats of their own, if they go to 
church. This was the case with this little boy. 
His father was either too •wicked, or too poor, to 
hire a seat for him, and as he came a great way, 
and got there late, he thought he would sit on the 
pulpit stairs. The minister did not know him, and 
all the congregation looked at him as if he were a 
stranger.” 

“Was he poorly dressed 7 ” asked Jane. 

“ His clothes were poor, but his face and hands 
were so clean, and his hair combed so smoothly, as 
to indicate that he came appearing as well as he 
could. The minister could hardly turn his eyes 
a-way from the lad, he was so interested to learn 


THE STRANGER BOY. 


73 


who he was. When he rose to preach, the lad 
looked him right in the face, and scarcely turned 
his eyes away during all the time he was preach- 
ing. The minister could not help noticing it, for 
no child ever before listened to him with so much 
attention.” 

Were there other children there said Jane. 
“ It must have mortified them to have had that 
poor, ragged boy pay better attention than they 
did.” 

‘‘ Yes, there were many children present, and 
not one of them was so attentive as the poor 
stranger boy. He looked, all the time, as if he 
went to meeting to hear. And, when the meeting 
was through, there was great inquiry w^ho the boy 
was.” 

“Didn’t anybody know him?” asked Jane, 
with great surprise. 

“ No ; the minister inquired of several persons, 
but no one knew him.” 

Why did they not ask the boy himself? ” in- 
quired Jane, with an air of wonder. 

“ Because, as soon as meeting was through, the 
boy was out first, and away he went as fast as his 
feet would carry him. They had no opportunity 
to make inquiries.” 

7 


74 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


And did they never know who he was, 
father 7 ” 

“ That you will ascertain by listening. The 
next Sabbath came. The minister could scarcely 
help thinking, as he was on the way to the church, 
I wonder if the stranger boy will be there. Meet- 
ing commenced, and the choir sung a hymn, but 
the poor lad was not there. The minister began 
to think he should see him no more. But, just as 
he rose to commence the sermon, in came the little 
lad, almost upon the run, and took his seat again 
upon the pulpit stairs. People in the congrega- 
tion looked at one another and smiled. The min- 
ister went on with his sermon, and the boy was 
attentive as ever. He looked directly at the 
preacher, and never dozed at all.” 

Did they not ask him this time who he was ? ” 
said Jane. 

‘‘ As soon as the benediction was pronounced, 
he was out and off as before, so that no one could 
make inquiries. The next Sabbath he was not 
there. Another Sabbath passed, and still he was 
not there. All began to think he would be at 
meeting no more. But the minister, so anxious 
to ascertain something more concerning the lad, 
had succeeded in learning a little of him, though 
nothing very definite.” 


THE STRANGER BOY. 


75 


And did lie never go to meeting there again ? ” 
asked Jane, impatient to hear the end. 

“ That is what you will soon learn. One even- 
ing, just 'at candle-lighting, the minister heard a 
rap at his door. On opening it, he found a mis- 
erable-looking man, who addressed him thus : 

“ ‘ Are you the minister, sir 7 ’ 

“ ‘ I am.’ 

‘My little boy is very sick, and he says he 
must see you before he dies. I think he cannot 
live through the night.’ 

‘ ‘ As he spoke, the tears ran down his furrowed 
cheeks, and he seemed to feel very deeply. The 
minister could hardly refrain from weeping, he felt 
so much for the dying boy and his poor father. 

“ ‘ How does he seem 7 ’ inquired the minister ; 
‘ is he very unhappy because he is going to die 7 ’ 
“ ‘ 0 no ! ’ replied the stranger, wiping the tears 
away from his eyes. ‘He was never so happy 
in his life. He sings and prays much of his 
time, and says “ die is gain.'’’’ ’ 

“ Now the minister was more than ever inter- 
ested to see the lad ; and although the stranger 
told him it was ‘ a long four miles ’ to his house, 
and some of the way nothing but a foot-path 
through the woods, so that they could not ride, 
yet he cheerfully consented to go.” 


76 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


“ What ! ” exclaimed Jane, “ did he go on foot 
four miles in the night, to see a sick boy ? ” 

“Yes, and I would go twice as far to see just 
such a boy to-night,” said her father. 

“Tell me, father,” said Jane, very impatient to 
hear the whole, “tell me how the boy was when 
they got there.” 

‘ ‘ I was going to say that they travelled on 
tlirough a very dreary part of the town, and 
passed over the line into the adjoining town. 
They went up hill and down, through woods and 
open fields, until the minister began to think it 
was a very ‘ long four miles.’ At length they 
reached the house, a poor, rickety habitation, hav- 
ing only two windows, and hardly good*enough for 
a barn.” 

Here Jane looked at her mother with an expres- 
sion which showed that now was coming what most 
of all she wished to learn. 

“They opened the door,” continued Mr. Mar- 
low, “ and the minister’s eye at once met the eye 
of the dying boy, as he lay in one corner of the 
room upon his poor bed of straw.” 

“ How glad I am,” exclaimed Jane, “that he 
was alive ! I was afraid he would die before the 
minister got there.” 

“ The poor boy smiled, and showed how glad he 


THE MINISTEll’s VISIT. 


77 


was to see a minister. And the minister himself 
was much surprised, on approaching him, to find 
that he was the same one who sat on the pulpit 
stairs.” 

“ Can it be, can it be 7 ” shouted Jane. 

‘‘ Yes, it was the same lad ; and he raised him- 
self up in the bed, as the minister drew near him, 
and lifting his ejes toward heaven, and waving his 
hand, exclaimed, ‘ O sing unto the Lord a new 
song ; for he hath done marvellous things ; 
his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten 
me the victory. He could say no more. His 
strength failed him, and he fell back upon his pil- 
low and died.” 

“What a pity,” said Jane, “that he could not 
have lived to talk more with the minister ! ” 

“ But he said enough,” rejoined her father, “to 
assure the minister that he died happy. And I 
think that you must admit now that even a child 
no older than yourself may have a happy new 
year, though he dies.” 

“I am convinced, father,” said Jane. 

“I should like to say much more about this 
lad,” added Mr. Marlow; “but the evening is far 
spent, and I have something I wish to say in rela- 
tion to what I have been teaching you. Besides, 
I wish to read to you abput another child who died 
7 * \ 


78 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


in peace, and which Mr. Tennyson has put into 
poetry.” 

So saying, he brought from the parlor a gilt- 
bound volume, and read the following article : 


If you ’re waking, call me early, call me early, mother 
dear. 

For I would see the sun rise upon the glad new year ; 

It is the last new year that I shall ever see, 

Then ye may lay me low i’ the mould, and think no more 
o’ me. 

“ To-night I saw the sun set ; he set and left behind 

The good old year, the dear old time, and all my peace of 
mind ; 

And the new year’s coming up, mother, but I shall never 
see 

The may upon the blackthorn, the leaf upon the tree. 

“ Last May we made a crown of flowers ; we had a merry 
day ; 

Beneath the hawthorn on the green, they made me Queen 
of May ; 

And we danced about the maypole, and in the hazel-copse. 

Till Charles’ wain came out above the tall, white chimney- 
tops. 


“ There ’s not a flower on all the hills ; the frost is on the 
pane ; 

I only wish to live till the snowdrops come again ; 

I wish the snow would melt and the sun come out on high, 
I long to see a flower so, beforerthe day I die. 


THE DYING CHILD. 


T9 


•* The building rook ’ll caw from the windy, tall, elm tree. 
And the tufted plover pipe along the fallow lea. 

And the swallow ’ll come back again with summer -o’er the 
wave. 

But I shall lie alone, mother, within the mouldering grave. 

** Upon the chancel-casement, and upon that graTe of mine. 
In the^arly, early morning the summer sun ’ll shine. 
Before the red cook crows from the farm upon the hill. 
When you are warm asleep, mother, and all the world is 
still. 

** When the flowers come again, mother, beneath the waning 
light. 

Ye ’ll nevecr see me more in the long, gray fields at night ; 
When from the dry, dark world the summer airs blow cool. 
On the oat-grass, and the sword-gra^, and the bulrush in 
the pool. 

** Ye *11 bury me, my mother, just beneath the hawthorn 
shade. 

And ye ’ll come sometimes and see me where I am lowly 
laid ; ' 

I shall not forget ye, mother, I shall hear ye when ye pass. 
With your feet above my head in the long and pleasant 
grass. 

I have been wild and wayward, but ye ’ll forgive me now ; 
Ye ’ll kiss me, my own mother, upon my cheek and brow ; 
Nay, nay, ye must not weep, nor let your grief be wild. 

Ye should not fret for me, mother, ye have another child. 

“ If I can, I ’ll come again, mother, from out «my resting- 
place 4 

Though ye ’ll not see me, mother, I shall look upon your 
fe-ce; 


80 


THE HAPPY NEW TEAK. 


Though I cannot speak a word^ I shall hearken what ye 
say, 

And be often, often with ye, when ye think I ’m ftir away. 

Good-night I good-night ! when I have said good-night for 
evermore,. 

And ye see me carried out from the threshold of the door. 

Don’t let Effie come to see me till my grave be growing 
green ; 

She ’ll be a better child to you than ever I have been. 


“ She ’ll find my garden toofs upon the granary floor ; 

Let her take ’em — they are hers — I shall never garden 
more ; 

But tell her, when I ’m gone, to train the rose-bush that I 
set. 

About the parlor window, and the box of mignonette. 


“ Good-night, sweet mother ! call me when it begins to dawn; 
All night I lie awake, but I fall asleep at morn ; 

But I would see the sun rise upon the glad new year. 

So, if you ’re waking,, call me, call me early, mother dear.” 


With this they ceased talking about the stranger 
lad, and conversed another half-hour as related in 
the following chapter. 


CHAPTER IX. 


Review. — What learned. — Nothing but religion will make a 
person happy. — year of misery without religion ; a year 
of happiness with it. — The French boy and the Bible 

“ Can you tell me now, Jane,” inquired her 
father, what important lessons you have learned 
from this conversation ? ” 

I have learned that rich and honored men are 
not as happy as some who are poor.” 

•‘Rather, you have learned that riches and honor 
cannot confer happiness. A rich man may be hap- 
py, and so an honored man may be; but not because 
they are rich and honored.” 

“ I was thinking the other day,” said Jane, 
“ what you would say about Deacon Goodyear, 
who does so much good with his money. He gives 
a great deal to poor people, and they all love him 
very much. And did not our minister say here, 
last summer, that Deacon Goodyear enjoyed it 
» very much ? ” 

“No doubt,” answered her father, “that Dea- 
con Goodyear enjoys his wealth in using it to bless 


84 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


will make him truly happy, whether rich or poor, 
high or low, sick or well, living or dying 7 ” 

“It certainly seems so,” replied Jane. “And 
if I wish him a happy year, and mean by it that 
he may have money, honor and other things, these 
may make him unhappy.” 

“ That is the correct idea. I will state it a little 
more clearly. Though a man possess all earthly 
things, without religion he may have a year of 
misery ; but though he possess little or nothing 
of these, with religion he will certainly have a 
year of happiness.” 

“ Should you think that people would be at a 
loss to know which to choose, Jane 7” inquired her 
mother, who had remained silent during much of 
this conversation. 

“No, mother ; for my part I would rather have 
that which would most certainly make me happy.” 

“You will know, from this time,” added Mr. 
Marlow, “what I mean when I wish you ‘a happy 
new year,’ will you not 7 ” 

“It would be strange if I did not, after you have 
said so much. I think I shall never forget this 
conversation whenever I hear anybody express the 
same wish again.” 

“ There is one book, which is a sure guide for 


THE FRENCH BOY. 


85 


the young in the path of happiness ; can you tell 
me what it is ? ” 

The Bible,” replied Jane, confident that she 
was right. 

‘‘True,” said her father, delighted with her 
ready reply. “And I can tell you a fine story 
to illustrate this, in connection with what has been 
said.” 

“ And I will be glad to hear it.” 

Mr. Marlow proceeded as follows : “ Not many 
years ago, there lived a boy in France, whose 
parents were about to choose for him some occu- 
pation for life ; and, like all parents, they desired 
to select one which would make him happy. Ac- 
cordingly they determined upon a certain trade, 
but it did not please the son.” 

“ What trade was it 7 ” inquired Jane. 

“That is not important to know. The lad 
desired to be a chemist, and no persuasion of his 
father could change his mind.” 

“ Why did he wish to be a chemist 7 ” 

“ Because he had seen a man in the neighbor- 
hood, whose occupation was that of a chemist and 
druggist, and he was one of those lovely, amiable 
men who always wear a smile ; and the lad sup- 
posed that such habitual happiness must have 
something to do with his daily pursuit.” 

8 


THE HAPPY NEW TEAR. 




Jane smiled, as her mother added, It shows 
how careful we ought to be about our behavior 
before the young. For it seems that even a smile 
may lead a boy to choose an occupation for life.” 

“ Bid he become a chemist?” asked Jane, eager 
to hear the story through. 

‘‘ I was about to say that after much hesitation 
the lad was sent to live with the chemist. It was 
a happy day to him, — the day on which he left 
home to begin a business for life ; for, like most 
youth, he was fond of new things, and did not 
fully realize the worth of a home. But he soon 
found that happiness did not depend upon being a 
chemist, and that the chemist himself was not as 
happy as he appeared to be. So, after trying this 
occupation to his satisfaction, he made known to 
his parents his disappointment, and expressed a 
wdsh to engage in some other.” 

‘‘ And did they let him leave that for another? 
Perhaps he would not be happy anywhere.” 

“ At length another business was chosen, and 
the lad left the chemist for the trade which his 
parents decided he should follow.” 

“Was he happy then ? ” inquired Jane. 

“Far from it ; but he had learned, by this time, 
that happiness does not depend so much upon one’s 
occupation as upon the mind, and he was willing 


THE FRENCH BOY. 


87 


to gratify his father and mother, although he did 
not really give up the idea that he might find an 
employment in which he should be happier.” 

“ I think, father,” said Jane, “ that, if you had 
been with him a little while, you would have made 
him understand better what happiness is.” 

“ But you will soon see that he finally learned 
what it is ; for one day he met a poor colporteur, 
and ” 

“What is a colporteur, father?” 

“ One who carries about Bibles, religious books 
and tracts, to sell and give away. As I was say- 
ing, the lad met the colporteur, a pious, cheerful, 
smiling man, with a pack upon his back. 

“ ‘ Can you sell me the secret of being happy 7’ 
he inquired. 

“ ‘ Surely I can,’ responded the colporteur, in- 
stantly ; ‘ and cheap, too.’ 

“ So he let his pack down upon the ground, and, 
taking out a well-bound book, offered- it to him, 
saying, 

“ ‘ This will teach you. how to be happy.’ ” 

Jane, looking earnestly at her father, asked, 
with a smile, “Was it not the Bible 7 ” 

“Yes, it was the Bible,” replied Mr. Marlow. 
“ The boy was in jest when he put the question to 
the colporteur ; but the adroitness of the man in 


88 


THE HAPPY NEW YEAR. 


replying to it, pleased him, so he took the book, 
and paid him for it.” 

‘‘ What became of the boy 7 What did he do 
with the Bible 7 ” 

“ He studied the Bible, and, by the blessing of 
God, it did teach him how to be happy. He be- 
came a Christian, and a minister, and is now the 
pastor of a Protestant church in Switzerland.” 

Thus ended the conversation of the Marlow 
Emily about THE happy new year. 


THE NEW YEAH. 

BY SOMEBODY. 

** This year is just going away, 

The moments are finishing fast ; 

My heart, have you nothing to say 
Concerning the time that is past ? 

“ Now, while in my chamber alone. 
Where God will be present to hear, 

I ’ll try to remember and own 

The faults I ’ve committed this year, 

** 0 Lord, I ’m ashamed to confess 
How often I ’ve broken thy day ; 
Perhaps I have thought of my dress. 
Or wasted the moments in play. 


CONCLUSION. 


89 


“ And when the good minister tried 
To make little children attend, 

I was thinking of something heside. 

Or wishing the sermon would end. 

How often I rose from my bed. 

And did not remember my prayer ! 

Or, if a few words I have said. 

My thoughts have been going elsewhere.** 

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